Boy Refused to Cut Hair for 5 Years (for the Most Amazing Reason)

byKaitlin StanfordNov 12, 2013

Lots of little boys have big dreams. But we're guessing most of them have a lot to do with saving the day, cape crusader-style or growing up to be someone big and powerful. A brave fireman? President of the United States?

Ten-year-old Colin Southwood has dreams of a different kind. And he's already making them come true.

For five years, the elementary schooler had been growing his hair into a long, wavy mane. He'd grown it so long it nearly reached his waist, and he'd been mistaken for a girl on more than one occasion. But no matter. In May of this year, he finally told his mom it was time to head to the barber. That's when he promptly had 13 long inches chopped off (with plenty to spare) so he could donate it to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program. There, it would be made into a wig for cancer patients who had lost their own during treatment.

Yes, Colin Southwood is one pretty amazing 10-year-old.

Making this story even more heartwarming is the fact that it was all his own idea in the first place. The young boy had thought of it when he was just 4 years old, when several people in his own life had been stricken with cancer—his grandmother, his two great-grandparents and even his school teacher. Inspired by a St. Jude commercial one day, he decided right then and there that he would grow his hair long enough so it could one day be donated to those in need.

And as if that isn't enough to make you fall in love with the kid, check out the heartfelt note he wrote when he donated his long locks:

Colin Southwood donates hair to cancer patients

As you might imagine, Colin's mom, Denise, is pretty proud of her son, saying that he's "10 going on 40". (We kinda get that vibe.)

"He's a good-hearted kid," Denise told HuffPost Parents. To which she added that he's already working on growing his hair out again.